
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


Now with an update! The last ten minutes of this episode are a NEW conversation with Chris about the final novella, Overview Effect. New content starts at 36:33.
Your hosts welcome Chris Farnell back on to the podcast to talk about Fermi’s Wake, his new collection of novellas featuring the ragtag crew of the Fermi. They discuss crab-centric evolution, ego driven characters, and confronting readers with complicity via scifi shenanigans.
Find more from Chris:
https://chrisfarnell.com/
https://bsky.app/profile/thebrainofchris.bsky.social
Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon
Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:
- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”
- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
Your hosts discuss Of Shadows, Stars, and Sabers, a new anthology edited by Jendia Gammon and Gareth L. Powell. They talk about enjoying the mix of “new to them” and familiar authors, what makes a story a bummer (complimentary), and the experience of reading a short story that forms part of a larger body of work.
Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon
Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:
- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
Your hosts discuss Dracula by Bram Stoker, and almost start talking about various Dracula adaptations as well before they manage to rein themselves in. They cover the mysteriously incorrect publication date in Lilly’s copy of the novel, how much they love Mina, and how much Stoker hated Lucy.
This episode contains spoilers.
Content Warning: brief mention of fictional suicide.
Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon
Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:
- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
Your hosts speak with Jessica A. McMinn about The Ruptured Sky, the first novel in her debut fantasy quartet. They talk about worldbuilding, asshole mentors, duty, and consequences.
Find more from Jessica:
https://jessicaamcminn.com/
https://bsky.app/profile/jessicaamcminn.bsky.social
Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon
Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:
- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”
- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
Your hosts are joined by Dan Hanks to discuss his scifi, thriller, adventure, every-genre-really novel, The Way Up is Death. They talk about large casts in focused scenes, unlikeable vs irredeemable characters, and the meaning of life.
Find more from Dan:
https://www.danhanks.com/
https://bsky.app/profile/danhanks.bsky.social
https://www.instagram.com/dan_hanks/
Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon
Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:
- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”
- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
This week, your hosts are covering The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison, which turns out to be a delightful intersection of both of their interests. They discuss emotional journeys in adjacent fantasy, political coups, and unique grammar conventions. They also evaluate what, exactly, makes a goblin.
Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon
Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:
- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”
- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
Excited for Mickey 17, the upcoming movie featuring Robert Pattinson, your hosts read Mickey7 by Edward Ashton. Despite their complaints about the narrative voice and Mickey’s POV, they really did enjoy the book, they promise. They also discuss the effect of cloning on the sense of self, the implications of space colonization, and neat aliens.
Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon
Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:
- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”
- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
Your hosts reflect upon 2024 and their podcasting experience, including some stats about the books they read in the last year. They also award some superlatives, such as "Best Supporting Character," "Best Re-read," and "World Most Likely to Kill Us Instantly."
Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon
Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:
- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
Your hosts finally reach the end of their Discworld reread with The Shepherd's Crown by Terry Pratchett, and they're feeling all sorts of ways about it. They talk about Tiffany Aching's arc over her mini-series as a whole, tying up (and leaving) loose threads, and everyone's favorite Kelda, Jeannie.
Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon
Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:
- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”
- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
Your hosts discuss The Escher Man by T. R. Napper. They consider what makes a story better fit for a movie format. They also talk about characters they're emotionally invested in, family dynamics, and cybernetic enhancements.
Find us on Discord / Support us on Patreon
Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:
- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”
- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
From the publisher's feed
“We read books – and other words, too.” Two cousins read and discuss a wide variety of books from self pub to indie to trad pub. Episodes are divided into a “Spoiler Free” conversation and then a…
Fiction Fans recently finished a readthrough of the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett.

783 Listeners